“…my deepest prayer is ‘Shepherd, show me how to go.’”

2.  While reading We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, vol. II I felt a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation towards Mrs. Eddy and all those who helped her advance the Cause. The groundbreaking nature of the discovery of Christian Science became clearer to my thought. All of these workers, under Mrs. Eddy’s leadership, paved the way permanently. Those early workers were willing to leave everything—-their hometowns, their jobs, their husbands and wives—-to follow Mrs. Eddy and serve God and to see such sacrifice was truly humbling. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, she writes “We are not Christian Scientists until we leave all for Christ.” (p. 192) These early workers understood and worked out the demonstration of this fact. Oftentimes, the depth of that statement is glossed over or misunderstood like the Biblical command to “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) These early workers were cognizant of the high demands of Christian Science and met them with hearts filled with grace.

The demands have not changed in the nearly century and a half since Mrs. Eddy’s discovery, nor has Mrs. Eddy’s position of leadership changed. For me, the book did raise questions about how my own life can change to serve the Cause and my deepest prayer is “Shepherd, show me how to go.” (Hymn 304)

“It’s clear that love was not a distant pale geography to Mrs. Eddy but the land that was under her feet.”

Another way that my life could change to serve the Cause better, is in having more love.  Recently a family member and I read to each other the places we had put post-its in our We Knew MBE books.  It was interesting how many of them were about Love and love – when neither of us was aware that that was happening in our saving these places. 

It’s clear that love was not a distant pale geography to Mrs. Eddy but the land that was under her feet.  She loved her enemies – giving her best prayers and preparations for a visit from someone who was behaving like an enemy (and never showed up) (p. 212).  Or spontaneously giving beautiful peaches to the girl who had been hindering her carriage to stare at her (and the intrusions stopped.)  She didn’t “use” Love but just loved.  She speaks of the importance of feeling love in our prayers.  She tells a clergyman that his answer to her question (about what the light was that had come to this age) was too intellectual and asks why he didn’t say “Love” (p. 336).  And she speaks of not “pouncing” on students when sin needed to be corrected (p. 125).  She said that it wasn’t that she tried to love but that love just happened before she even realized it.  And, of course, there are the numerous accounts of her teaching in classes how it is Love that heals.  Her teaching was all about Love. 

The night after we read these passages to each other I had to stay up late with some branch church work.  An issue had been fizzing up all day on email. As I stayed awake in bed afterwards, I thought of Mrs. Eddy’s lessons about Love and love, and it seemed very possible to feel love for all those involved.  The love was given to me.  The next morning when I checked email there were two apologies to the group and one modified and gentled response.  Why do I ever forget about Love?

“I came to see [love] as the most powerful weapon we have”

One thing I’d like to mention in conjunction with our reading of the amplified We Knew Mary Baker Eddy vol. II is a much greater sense of love.  I was so struck by the many times the writers mentioned that even (or especially) when Mrs. Eddy was under attack, her only response was love.  As I read, I came to see that as the most powerful weapon we have.  I also was increasingly aware of the many opportunities that come up each day to use this “weapon” against the many claims of animal magnetism.  One small example is this:  early in the fall, I went to a conference on working with challenging and distractible students.  The presenter suggested taking 60 seconds of complete quiet at the beginning of every class.  Her idea included deep breathing and becoming very aware of ones body – a kind of meditation, I guess, but I decided I could use it rather differently.  I instituted the minute of quiet at the beginning of every class.  I wasn’t strict about it.  I said that I would be closing my eyes, and anyone who wanted to could do it too; all I asked for was quiet.  We have done this every day since then.  I don’t know what the students do during that time, because my eyes are closed, and I am praying.  What comes during those moments most often is a warm sense of love for every one of my students.  It seems clearer and clearer that there is never any reason to be irritable, angry, upset. Love is all that is needed to sweep those feelings away and leave me much more able to respond to what the people around me truly need.

“I was kind of astonished by how perfectly our needs were provided for”

I really liked the parts of We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, vol. II that were transcriptions of metaphysical things Mrs. Eddy had told people.  One thing that impressed me strongly was how often Mrs. Eddy would say that we need to deny error less and affirm Truth more.  I also think it’s really important how she said again and again that when praying, people should just love.  I’ve been trying to do those things as I pray.

I loved finding out that Mrs. Eddy loved terrible puns – like on page 166 when she gave Joseph Mann a watch, and told him that it would remind him to “Watch!”

I was fascinated by all the times that Mrs. Eddy and her household prayed to control the weather.  I actually had a small experience with that, last summer, when I arranged a concert in a beautiful space that didn’t have air conditioning.  We had some provisions for cooling the space off, but as we got closer to the time, there was a heat wave that threatened to make it too hot for comfort.  But then, in the afternoon before the concert, there was a break in the heat, and it became almost cool.  We were able to air the space out and it was perfectly pleasant for the concert.  Then the weather went back to being hot again right after the concert was over.  I had been praying for the success and harmony of the concert, and that the spiritual ideas behind the concert could be clearly expressed, but I was kind of astonished by how perfectly our needs were provided for.  I had not thought of that as something actually possible, really.  I was also a little reluctant to say that it was the result of prayer, in case I was being presumptive or ridiculous, so it was very interesting to read about Mrs. Eddy not just saying control of the weather was possible, but requiring it from her household. I also really love the part on page 471 where Adelaide Still describes Mrs. Eddy “calling the students in and asking them if a Christian Scientist could control the weather…She asked the question of each one separately, and each one replied, “Yes, Mother.” She said, “They cannot, but God can.” 

“This book has helped me to better understand how God is always with us”

2. Describe what you yourself felt from reading the book. Did it raise questions about how your own life could change during this crucial time in order to bring your best to serve this Cause? What can we learn from the sacrifices of the early workers and their obedience to Mrs. Eddy’s leadership? How does this leadership continue into the second century of Christian Science?

This book has helped me to better understand how God is always with us. After hearing how much Mary Baker Eddy went through in her life, more than most people, she knew she could always go to prayer and remember that in reality, God was always with her. Before reading this book, it was easy for me to get in the habit of thinking that she and the early workers had their own problems and they were able to work through them but in our current time, there are so many more problems that they didn’t have to face. Many times I find myself becoming upset about massive problems like global warming or small problems, like not being able to get away from bad advertisements on the Internet.

However, after reading this book, in the second century of Christian Science I have started realizing that my own fears are not smaller or bigger than theirs. I have started reading Prose Works from start to finish and love it. I am having a better appreciation of how church is able to have a positive influence on society. I have also started trying harder to control my thoughts, especially when I am fearful. Once when I was driving home from work in the snow, I kept repeating to myself “Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself” (S&H 385:17-18). I remained calm and there were no accidents. All of this has led me have a better appreciation, care and love for humanity and our church. “If you do not get happiness where you are now, you will never get it” (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy Expanded Edition Vol. II p. 547).

“It brings enlightenment and helps in healing”

Thank you for this year’s assignment.  I am using in the practice so many ideas that Mrs. Eddy shared with her students.  As I talk on the phone, an idea will occur from one of her communications with a student and I share it.  It brings enlightenment and helps in healing.  Her corrections of Mr. Dickey when she asked him to pray for her when she had a sore throat showed how careful she was to state truth correctly (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Vol. II, p. 431). 

I was particularly moved by Mr. Dickey’s account of her resurrecting Mr. Frye and especially by his writing about the constant malicious malpractice Mrs. Eddy faced.  It truly moved me to tears.